Royal Caribbean’s Loyalty Program – Crown & Anchor Society [In-Depth]

Royal Caribbean is one of the world’s largest cruise lines and a favorite among many cruise travelers, operating over 25 ships and sailing to over 300 destinations around the world.

One of the things Royal Caribbean is known for is its enormous mega-ships including Symphony of the Seas, which is the largest cruise ship in the world. This “floating city” can accommodate 6,680 passengers and 2,200 crew members! From pools and waterslides to dance classes, ice skating, and even zip-lining, Royal Caribbean ships are bursting with activities.

If you’re sailing in the Caribbean, you might make a stop at the cruise line’s private island, Coco Cay, located in the Bahamas. This island paradise boasts the largest pool in the Bahamas and the tallest waterslide in North America.

Royal Caribbean also loves rewarding loyal guests. After your first cruise, you’ll automatically be enrolled in the Crown & Anchor Society. You’ll earn points each night you spend at sea and will be rewarded with exclusive member benefits.

Here’s everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society including how to earn points and what you’ll get with each tier of membership.

Crown & Anchor Society

The Crown & Anchor Society is Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program. After cruising with Royal Caribbean once, you are automatically enrolled in the program.

How to Earn Cruise Points

Your membership level in the Crown & Anchor Society is based on a points system.

• You’ll earn 1 cruise point for each night you sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise in an interior, ocean view, or balcony stateroom
• You’ll earn 2 cruise points for each night you cruise with Royal Caribbean in a suite

Keep Track of Your Points

You’ll be able to keep track of your Crown & Anchor Society points in your online account. In the top right corner, you’ll see your status level and total cruise points.

You can also see any upcoming cruises you have as well as a list of past cruises. Each past cruise will show the number of cruise points you earned for that cruise.

Crown & Anchor Society Membership Benefits [Program Levels]

Being a member of the Crown & Anchor Society has some great benefits. Your perks are based on your membership tier, which is determined by the number of points you have earned.

There are 6 levels of membership in the Crown & Anchor Society, and all benefits are cumulative.

Gold: 3-29 Cruise Points

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Crown & Anchor Society exclusive rates on select ships and sail dates
• Priority notice on Royal Caribbean news including new ships, new itineraries, and special offers
• Member newsletter: Crown & Anchor Society Exclusive
• Reduced rate upgrades (when available)
• Members-only area of the website
• Email offers

Onboard Benefits

• Special onboard offers
• Membership recognition on SeaPass Card
• Priority check-in
• Private departure lounge with continental breakfast
• Exclusive trivia
• Extra cruise point per night when you pay a single pricing type in a double occupancy stateroom

Youth Benefits

• Onboard offers on SeaPass Card
• Same member status as the parent after the child’s first cruise (except for Pinnacle Club status)

Platinum: 30-54 Cruise Points

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Discounts on balcony and suite staterooms
• Status match to Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club and Azamara Club Cruises Le Club Voyage

Onboard Benefits

• Exclusive top tier event
• Robes for onboard use
• Signature Crown & Anchor Society lapel pin

Youth Benefits

• Same as Gold level membership

Hot Tip: Crown & Anchor Society members earn cruise points based on the number of nights sailed and room category. These then determine the member’s tier level. These are different than MyCruise Reward points which are earned by using the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature^® Card.

Emerald: 55-79 Cruise Points

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Same as Platinum level membership

Onboard Benefits

• Welcome waters and a snack on embarkation day plus a drink of choice that must be selected ahead of time online

Youth Benefits

• Same as Gold level membership

Diamond: 80-174 Cruise Points

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Same as Platinum level membership

Onboard Benefits

• Milestone recognition gift on the cruise where you reach 140 cruise points and on each additional 70 nights (gifts at 140 nights, 210 nights, 280 nights, etc.)
• Chef’s choice gift or amenity
• Priority waitlist for shore excursions and spa reservations
• Diamond club access on select ships
• Priority departure
• Exclusive nightly Diamond event which includes 3 nightly drink vouchers (on ships without a Diamond Club)
• Complimentary specialty coffees with breakfast in either the Diamond Club or dining room
• Behind the scenes entertainment tour
• Priority waitlist seating in the main dining room

Youth Benefits

• Commemorative gift

Hot Tip: The Diamond Club is open to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members and is available on select ships. When there is a Diamond Club onboard, there won’t be a nightly Diamond event and specialty coffees with breakfast won’t be available in the dining room. Friends and family of eligible members are not allowed in the Diamond Club.

Diamond Plus: 175-699 Cruise Points

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Exclusive Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club call center staff members
• Single supplement cruise fare reduction for members who have over 340 cruise points

Onboard Benefits

• Priority access for stateroom upgrades
• Choice of additional gifts (must be ordered pre-cruise)
• Behind the scenes tours of galley and bridge and enhanced entertainment tour with VIP theater experience on cruises of 5 nights or more
• Personalized gift or amenity (1 per household)
• Concierge Club access
• Priority seating in theater, ice show, and AquaTheater events
• Meal with an officer for members with over 340 cruise points
• Upgraded bathroom amenities for members with over 340 cruise points
• Bonus gift for members with over 340 cruise points or over 525 cruise points

Youth Benefits

• Same as Diamond level membership

Hot Tip: Concierge Club is available on select ships and is open to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members. Friends and family of members are not allowed in the Concierge Club.

Pinnacle Club: 700+ Cruise Points

Benefits and Savings on Land

• Complimentary cruise (per household) once a member hits 700 cruise points and every additional 350 cruise points thereafter (see below for details)

Onboard Benefits

• Personalized Pinnacle Club lapel pin
• Pinnacle Club SeaPass Card loaded with exclusive benefits

Youth Benefits

• Onboard offers on SeaPass Card
• Commemorative gift

Pinnacle Club Free Cruises

A Pinnacle Club member will receive a free cruise certificate once he or she reaches 700 cruise points and will receive an additional cruise certificate for every additional 350 cruise points earned.

• The cruise certificates earned when the member hits 700 or 1,050 cruise points are good for a balcony stateroom on a 7-night Caribbean cruise or $2,400 towards the purchase of a different cruise.
• The cruise certificates earned when the member hits 1,400, 1,750, or 2,100 cruise points (and every 350 cruise points thereafter) are good for a junior suite stateroom on a 7-night Caribbean cruise or $3,200 towards the purchase of a different cruise.

The free cruise certificate does not cover taxes, fees, and any additional expenses like transportation to/from the cruise port or shore excursions. The certificate can’t be transferred and isn’t valid on holiday sailings or on any ship that is less than 1 year old.

Bottom Line: Royal Caribbean rewards loyal customers with the Crown & Anchor Society. As a member, you’ll earn points for each night you sail (plus bonus points when you book a suite). You’ll then be eligible for benefits and perks based on the number of points you have earned. 

Crown & Anchor Society Partners

As a member of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, you’ll have access to benefits at partner companies including Hertz and MGM Rewards.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Crown & Anchor Society members can now enjoy Hertz Gold Plus member benefits including:

• Counter-free pickup at select locations
• Choice of any car from the Gold Plus area at select locations
• Earn Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points with every rental
• Mobile alert confirmations when your car is ready
• Fast returns and e-receipts

You’ll also be eligible for extra discounts and perks like an additional 10% off base rates through June 30, 2020.

MGM Rewards

As a Crown & Anchor Society member, you’re eligible for a tier status match to MGM Rewards.

MGM Rewards are valid at Las Vegas destinations as well as regional MGM Rewards locations:

To activate your reciprocal MGM Rewards status, visit the MGM Rewards desk at any participating location.

When you receive MGM Rewards status through the tier match program, you are not eligible to receive MGM Rewards benefits onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise nor are you eligible for the complimentary cruise offered to Platinum and NOIR MGM Rewards members.

Celebrity Cruises Captain’s Club members are also eligible for a tier status match to MGM Rewards.

Book Your Royal Caribbean Cruise

Using the right credit card can give you so much value out of every purchase. So when you have a large purchase like a cruise, it’s smart to think twice about how you’re going to pay for it.

While you may be thinking that using the Royal Caribbean card would be the best option (since it’s got the same name as the cruise you’re booking), you’d be wrong. While this card can help you earn some points to use as onboard credit or on cruise discounts, there are better options out there.

With the Royal Caribbean card, you can earn 10,000 bonus points after making a purchase within 90 days. That’s only worth $100 in onboard credit.

Compare that to a card that earns flexible points like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. Not only does this card earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards Points which can be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal or can be transferred to the Chase transfer partners for even more value.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

Credit Recommended

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Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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No matter what credit card you use, you can also get extra bonuses and perks like onboard credit or complimentary specialty dinners by booking your cruise through the right website.

Hot Tip: Be prepared! Take a look at our printable cruise packing list before you set sail.

Final Thoughts

Royal Caribbean is a popular cruise line for a reason. It offers huge mega-ships with incredible amenities and sails to fantastic destinations all over the world.

If you’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean in the past, you’re automatically a member of the Crown & Anchor Society. This means you’re eligible for extra perks and bonuses every time you sail with Royal Caribbean.

For each night you spend onboard, you’ll earn cruise points. Those points determine your Crown & Anchor Society status level. With each new level, the benefits get bigger and better.

Whether it’s your first time cruising with Royal Caribbean or your 101st, make sure you know which Crown & Anchor Society benefits you’re entitled to so you can make the most of each day at sea.